Self-closing safety pin



NOV. 18, 1952 T 2,618,035

SELF-CLOSING SAFETY PIN Filed March 10, 1950 Robert E. Tomb INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 18, 1952 OFFICE 2,618,035 SELF-CLOSING SAFETY PIN 7 Robert E. Tomb, Indiana, Pa. Application March 10, 1950, Serial No. 148,763

' 1 Claim.

'The present invention relates to new anduseful improvements in safety pins and more particularly to the provision of a hollow head which forms a shield or guard for the pointed prong of the pin.

An important object of the invention is to provide a pivoted hollow head forming a shield or guard for the pointed prong of the pin and providing spring means for holding the head in position with the point of the pin enclosed therein.

Another object is to provide spring means engaging the hollow head to automatically swing the head into a position 1E0 enclose and form a guard for the pointed end of the pin.

A still further object is to provide a safety pin which may be inserted into the material and removed therefrom by one hand of a person, thus leaving the other hand free for other purposes.

A still further object is to provide a safety pin of simple and practical construction, which is efficient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended. 1

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the guard in closed position;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the guard in open position;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on a line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on a line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view with the guard partly broken away and shown in section; and,

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on a line 66 of Figure 5.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment on the invention, the numeral 5 designates the wire safety pin generally and which includes a back bar 6 and a front bar I united with each other at the rear of the pin by awire coil 8. The front end of front bar 'I is pointed to form 9. prong as shown at 9.

The front end of back bar 6 is formed with a wire coil or eye II] from which a spring finger II projects.

A substantially flat hollow head I2 of substantially triangular shape is formed with a front apex end I2 provided therein with opposed inwardly projecting trunnions or pivots I3 pressed from the side wall of the head for entering the opposite sides of eye ID to pivotally mount the head I2 thereon to enclose the front end of the pin. The rear end of head I2, that is the end I3 opposite said end I2, is open and curves in an arc with the pivot I3 as its center to position the head with the back bar 6 bearing against a closed back edge I4 of head I2 and with spring II bearing against a closed front edge I5 of the head, said edges I4, I5 being formed by opposite sides of the triangle.

The open end I3 of the head continues into the front edge I5 thereof to provide an open lower corner I6 for receiving the pointed end 9 of the pin andthe side walls of the head I2 at the open corner I6 thereof are formed with outwardly flared lips I! to guide the pointed end 9 of the pin into the head between the side walls thereof to form a guard for the pin.

In the operation of the device the head I2 is free to swing on the pivot I3 supported by eye In at the front end of back bar 6 of the pin and the spring finger II engages the front edge I5 of the head to swing the head into a position to enclose the pointed end 9 of the pin which passes into the lower corner It and between the outwardly flared lips I! into the rear open end I3! of the head which forms a guard or shield for the pin straddling the front ends of said bars 6, 1.

The pin is inserted into the material by grasping the coil 8 at the rear end of the pin and forcing the front end of the pin against the material which swings the head from the position shown in full lines in Figure 5 to its dotted line position to expose the pointed end 9 of the pin for entering the material. After the pointed end 9 of front bar 1 passes through the material the spring I I then swings the head forwardly to enclose and cover point 9 with the back edge I4 engaging the front end of the back bar 6 and limiting closing movement of said head I2.

When removing the pin from the material the head I2 is grasped at opposite sides by the thumb and forefinger at a point in the region of pivot I3 and the initial rearward force subjected to the pin will cause the head I2 to again swing away from pointed end 9 of the pin into the dotted line position shown in Figure 5 to permit withdrawal of the pin from the material.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A safety pin comprising a back bar and a flexible front bar united at rear ends thereof and having front ends, the front end of the back bar head being pivoted to opposite sides of said coil with said spring finger bearing against said closed front edge and acting to swing said head in one direction on its pivot to straddle the front ends of said bars with said closed back edge engaging said back bar and limiting swinging of said head in said one direction, said head being swingable in the opposite direction on its pivot in opposition to the spring finger to expose said prong.

ROBERT E. TOMB.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,200,290 Morris May 14, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 213,229 Holland of 1930 

